Texas needs the Affordable Care Act

July 16, 2012 at 2:16 a.m.

Editor, the Advocate:

Governor Perry says that Texas will not create the insurance exchanges or expand Medicaid according to the Affordable Care Act. He is denying Texans affordable health care coverage which we desperately need. Texas has the highest number of uninsured citizens in the country, 25 percent.

Looking at the provision of Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act, it would provide coverage for millions of Texans. The funding would be paid at 100 percent by the Federal Government. Medicaid was underfunded by $4 billion in the last legislative session, so you can see why we need to participate in the ACA. (It is estimated at least $10 billion new funding is needed.)

Consider Texas has already received money provided through the Affordable Care Act. Is the state going to pay this money back? This is only a partial list of what Texas has received. • $1 million planning grant that has been awarded and received by Texas, which "provides Texas the resources needed to conduct the research and planning necessary to build a better health insurance marketplace and determine how its exchange will be operated and governed." $1 million planning grant that has been awarded and received by Texas, which "provides Texas the resources needed to conduct the research and planning necessary to build a better health insurance marketplace and determine how its exchange will be operated and governed."

• "Since 2010, Texas has received $38 million in grants from the Prevention and Public Health Fund created by the Affordable Care Act." "Since 2010, Texas has received $38 million in grants from the Prevention and Public Health Fund created by the Affordable Care Act."

• "Health centers in Texas have received $162.3 million to create new health center sites in medically underserved areas." "Health centers in Texas have received $162.3 million to create new health center sites in medically underserved areas."

• "$150,000 to support teaching health centers, creating new residency slots in community health centers." "$150,000 to support teaching health centers, creating new residency slots in community health centers."

"$2 million for the expansion of the Physician Assistant Training Program, a five-year initiative to increase the number of physician assistants in the primary care workforce."

www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/tx.html

Information from the Texas Department of Insurance regarding the law can be found at www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/cpmhealthcare.html.

How can we deny our citizens, especially our children, the benefits provided by the ACA?